Guns & Patriots will be taking a look at gun laws in the states and reporting on laws, statistics, trends and events that matter. The intention of these reports is not to be comprehensive or to report on every story coming out of the state, just an overview of where the states are based on the view that the support of gun rights and responsible gun ownership are the best ways to protect liberty and the safety of American citizens.

Since the states are the great laboratory of America’s federal system it is appropriate to look at what is working and not working at that level.

Second Amendment advocates were thrilled last month when a federal judge struck down a Maryland state law requiring concealed carry applicants to provide a “good and substantial reason” to carry a firearm.

However, their excitement didn’t last long.

Two weeks after the gun ruling was handed down, a federal appeals court delayed its implementation, which was supposed to happen on August 7.

The case, brought forth by The Second Amendment Foundation in 2010, transpired when Hampstead resident Raymond Woollard applied for a handgun permit after encountering an intruder in his home in 2002. When Woollard tried to renew the permit in 2009, the state denied his request because he couldn’t show “good and substantial reason” as Maryland state law requires.

My take: When it comes to the Second Amendment, should citizens have the burden of proof? The U.S. Constitution – the “supreme law of the land” – affirms that Americans have the right to keep and bear arms, but in Maryland and many other states, people must prove why they should be allowed that right.

What must be cleared up first is that there is a difference between the state and municipal laws and the rules set by the Century 16 movie theater where the grisly shooting took place. The theater had a ban on walking in with firearms, and also on concealed carry permit holders from bringing their guns on the premises. The theater’s rules were quite restrictive, but did not prevent the shooter from committing the crime anyway.

Colorado does not have an assault weapons ban, magazine restrictions and does not require a permit to purchase a handgun. However, there are fairly strict laws regarding gun use at a municipal level.

Aurora’s municipal laws disallow having a concealed carry for a “dangerous weapon,” discharging a firearm if not an official member of law enforcement, and having a loaded firearm in a vehicle. While the shooter broke all of these laws, they also prevented law abiding citizens from shooting back and stopping him.

Before the shooting in Aurora took place, the biggest gun related news was the state Supreme Court’s ruling on March 5 that would allow students to carry concealed weapons on college campuses. Students for Concealed Carry (SCC) had previously sued the state, claiming that the University of Colorado violated the state’s concealed carry policy. While many municipalities, like Aurora, Denver and Boulder have tighter gun restrictions than the state, it could become increasingly difficult for them to enforce those laws if challenged in court.